Why Join?

Maintain and improve market access, investigating new countries and opportunities

Improve biosecurity through R&D, capacity and relationship building

Support eradication of citrus canker in the Northern Territory by December 2020

Negotiate an industry labour agreement for horticulture

Develop an export market for Australian orange juice, and work towards $420 per tonne for juicing fruit

But we can’t do it without our members.

Taking a membership with Citrus Australia provides funds to invest in our team and programs, including government liaison, which will become more critical as we provide grower representation in the areas of labour, water, biosecurity, market access, agrichemicals, infrastructure, energy, research and development.

Nominate to represent your fellow growers on one of Citrus Australia’s eleven committees

Attend 2-4 meetings per year to discuss priorities for your committee

Be the conduit between Citrus Australia and growers

Assist in strategic planning and the direction of the company

Attend networking events and build connections within industry

Be a strong voice and a leader in your industry

Own a piece of Citrus Australia

Share your ideas and concerns with Citrus Australia committees to be raised for discussion

Have input into Citrus Australia’s advocacy to government by providing evidence for our inquiry submissions and ministerial meetings regarding important matters such as industry fees, water regulation, and exports

Vote for Citrus Australia board members

Reach out with interesting and innovative stories and technologies on your farm, for Citrus Australia to communicate with industry

Participate in Citrus Australia surveys, and provide suggestions and feedback at regional forums

Provide guidance on types of workshops or research and development needed in your regional area

Be the first to hear of new data and information that impacts your growing decisions

Get your hands on a printed copy of the annual Australian Citrus Tree Census at the national forum

Have the Citrus Australia annual report and strategic priorities emailed to you each year

See bi-annual updates on research and development projects, along with regional advisory and issues committees

Advocate for the citrus industry and be heard by decision makers

Have input into Citrus Australia’s advocacy to government by providing evidence for our inquiry submissions and ministerial meetings regarding important matters such as industry fees, water regulation, and exports

Participate in Citrus Australia surveys, and provide suggestions and feedback at regional forums

Access citrus industry communications to keep you in the know-how, both on paper and online

See email announcements on important matters that Citrus Australia encourages you to note, such as grants, government inquiries, surveys, or biosecurity alerts

Pick up the quarterly magazine Australian Citrus News in your mailbox, and find archive copies in the exclusive ‘members only’ section of the Citrus Australia website

Hear about courses on offer from Citrus Australia, and price savings for members

Unlock the members section of the Citrus Australia website

View archive copies of Australian Citrus News

See member only prepared documents on topics that matter to you

Access detailed reports on export MRLs

Access copies of Citrus Australia submissions to government

Still got questions?

We’ve heard the odd yarn from our growers that doesn’t quite add up, so we thought we’d set some things straight.

Q. I pay the citrus levy, does that mean I am a Citrus Australia member? A. No. Citrus Australia is a not-for-profit member organisation that is funded by annual membership fees. Our grower members pay the citrus levy, but they also pay a voluntary membership fee based on their hectares. Citrus Australia applies for levy funding to conduct Research and Development (R&D) projects, and is currently administering five of these.

Q. Where do my levies go? A. Your levy is collected at the first point of sale, which is generally your nominated packing shed. The packing shed sends this money to the Federal Department of Agriculture. The Department gives some of this money to Plant Health Australia (PHA), and some to Hort Innovation, who both create R&D projects based on industry needs. But they don’t spend this money.

Q. Does Citrus Australia get my levies? A. Not directly. Citrus Australia participates in a competitive tender process to win levy funding and manage the R&D projects offered by PHA and Hort Innovation. We only apply when we feel we are best placed to manage these projects. This is why we rely on membership fees to conceptualise, secure and deliver these projects, by providing a stable business structure, a regionally based office, skilled staff, and a board with oversight of eleven committees, enabling a fair representation of industry.

Q. I receive the Citrus Australia e-news and the magazine. Does that mean I’m a member? A. Not necessarily. We share the Australian Citrus News magazine and Citrus eNews with all of industry – our grower members, non-members (levy payers), and affiliate members. You can find out if you are a member by calling us on 03 5023 6333.

Q. I already pay levies and receive information from Citrus Australia. Why pay for a membership? A. It is true, as a levy payer Citrus Australia manages the administration of levy funded projects (through PHA and Hort Innovation) that you will see the benefits of. For example, the Australian Citrus News and Citrus eNews are levy funded projects. As a member, you get so much more than that. Want statistical data on shipping exports? We can customise that for you. Want advice on chemical ratios for export to South Korea? We can clarify this for you. Want us to bring innovative from around the globe to protect you from biosecurity incursions? Want us to advocate to government on your behalf for changes to the Horticulture Award, or the right to irrigate your orchard in the Murray Darling Basin? Want to receive direct mail on critical updates to industry from our CEO? We can do all of these things, but they are not funded by R&D projects. They are funded by membership fees, and whilst we’d really love to help you, if you are not a member, we don’t have the time to prioritise this for you.

Q. I only grow a small acreage of limes. Why should I become a member? A. Whilst limes are a small category, you are still a very important part of the citrus family. How would we cook our fajitas, or garnish our gin and tonics, if it weren’t for limes? Being a member of Citrus Australia means that we value your input, and we want to hear from you. Whilst levy funding might mean that we work on a specific project, it doesn’t mean that the strategic plan for the company falls in line with whatever project is available. Citrus Australia is member owned, and member run. Your input is considered in all of our planning. Plus you get access to the more personalised assistance we mentioned above.

Q. Why does having a representative body like Citrus Australia matter? A. When an exotic pest is found, Citrus Australia represents you the grower, and gives industry a voice in the response. A. When there is an issue in an export market, Citrus Australia will help you. We represent industry to governments here and abroad. A. When government makes poor policy, we are your voice at State and Federal levels. A. Whilst we deal with issues every day, we are always looking to the medium and long term to prepare industry for challenges and opportunities to lie ahead.

Not a member yet?

Show your support for the industry and Citrus Australia and join today… collectively we can make big things happen!